The Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary & Kotobuki-Kai are pleased to present Japan Culture Workshop for students in the 7th to 12th grades as an introduction to Japanese culture. In this 4-hour day-camp students have the chance to learn about the art of Japanese Flower Arrangement (Ikebana), taste Japanese food, get hands on experience with Taiko (Japanese drumming), and view a Japanese animated film “NITABOH”.

Japan Culture Workshop is free of charge, but reservations are required as there are a limited number of seats available. To sign up, please contact the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary by email at: info@cl.mofa.go.jp or phone: (403) 294-0782 (ext. 108).

The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, has recently released an e-magazine called ‘We are Tomodachi’ for Japanese citizens and foreigners to hear updates directly from the Prime Minister and his cabinet about their activities. The combined newsletter and website are a way to engage those interested in Japan and will feature various Japanese topics such as politics, economics, culture, cuisine, technological advances, and messages from the Prime Minister himself. The magazine aims to provide a broader understanding of Japan to the rest of the world.

The Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary encourages you to participate in the Images of Japan Photo Contest. Submit a photo that depicts your impression of Japan for a chance to win prizes, receive a certificate from the Consul General of Japan and have your photo featured at the Calgary Japanese Festival Omatsuri 2014. The image does not have to be taken in Japan.

For further entry details download the Conditions Form on their website, which must be submitted along with your entry. ENTER BY JULY 15, 2014.

The Monbukagakusho (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology – MEXT) offers various scholarships to Canadian Citizens who wish to study at Japanese universities. There are several scholarships available depending on your area of study: Research Study, Undergraduate, or Japanese Study. The eligibility requirements, application forms, and deadlines for each vary so ensure you are familiar with the one you would like to choose.

The Undergraduate scholarship is offered to foreign university undergraduate students who major in a field related to the Japanese language or Japanese culture, for the duration of five years from April 2015. Applicants must have been born between April 2, 1993 and April 1, 1998 and hold Canadian citizenship. Applicants must demonstrate a sufficient level of Japanese language ability to be able to receive an education in Japanese by means of a Japanese exam held in late-June or July.The application deadline is on May 30, 2014.

“The number of teachers hired for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program would be doubled in three years under a proposal drafted by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to boost Japan’s global competitiveness and nurture international talent.

According to the draft of a midterm report by the LDP’s economic revitalization headquarters obtained Monday, the number of JET teachers would be increased to 10,000 from about 4,360 in 2012. The teachers also would be dispatched to all elementary, junior high and high schools within 10 years.

The JET Program was targeted for wasteful spending by the Democratic Party of Japan’s “shiwake” government revitalization unit before the young party was kicked out of power in the Lower House election in December.

The LDP views the use of native English speakers as vital to improving English-speaking ability at a time when it is moving toward making a passing score on the Test of English as Foreign Language mandatory for entering and graduating from college.

The proposal is in line with the growth strategies Prime Minister Shinzo Abe mapped out last Friday ahead of the July Upper House election. The strategies include globalizing the Japanese workforce and increasing the number of women in it by extending the length of maternity leave to three years from 18 months.

The proposal will be part of Abe’s real basic economic policies, which are being compiled by the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy for release in June — just a month before the House of Councilors election in July.

Fleshing out Abe’s pledge to fight the nationwide shortage of day-care centers, the LDP’s plan will also propose tax breaks for spending related to housekeeping, including baby-sitting and housekeeping fees.

According to media reports, the LDP will also try to lure back Japanese companies that have moved overseas to escape the strong yen by offering tax breaks for closing any factories built abroad and for building new ones in Japan.

Halting the manufacturing exodus will help prevent the hollowing out of Japanese industry.”